Are Eye Creams A Waste Of Money?

Well, it depends! Until recently I would have answered that question with 'YES', with the exception of a couple of products. You might expect that as a person trained in skincare writing this I'd be happy to promote all manner of products but I wanted this blog to be an honest platform offering simple practical advice and busting any prevalent myths.

Most eye creams claim that they remove dark circles and fade lines or reduce puffiness, but most don’t! Dark circles are either hereditary or as a result of collagen reduction from ageing, this makes blood vessels appear more noticeable through skin. There are of course other reasons such as allergies or lack of sleep (sorry mums!) but most of the time it’s due to the first two reasons.

To be honest I’ve never been a big fan of eye cream and thought they were a waste of money, mainly because they tend to make my eyes puffy and being a hay fever sufferer I don’t need that area emphasised. Instead, I used a facial serum around my eyes along with an spf in my moisturiser to treat and protect that area. My attitude was that serums address any skin concerns and are so lightweight in liquid or gel form they would treat that area without heavy products......but that's changed. Unfortunately (despite my best efforts!) I’ve started to see wrinkles forming around my eyes and have decided to tackle the problem head on!

So....I've tried a few eye products and thought I'd share with you what I liked. Firstly, I only take note of an eye product if it contains active ingredients like Peptides, Caffeine or Retinol. These are game-changers for skin and work very effectively. Peptides stimulate collagen, reducing wrinkles and improve elastin which gives the skin the ability to stretch and re-position without sagging. To help with puffiness and dark circles look for caffeine; it helps by constricting blood vessels under the skin, which helps with fluid retention and colour under the eye area. If your looking for wrinkle reduction, look for creams with retinol. Retinol is the gold standard of anti ageing skincare. A retinol will exfoliate the skin, stimulate collagen production, help reduce pigmentation and fine lines, as well as deep wrinkles, improve skin texture, tone, colour and hydration levels. It’s the proven wonder ingredient that will make you look younger.

Product Round-Up

These are my top three products to suit all budgets:

For a mid range product that’s a good all rounder, try Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Treatment (£19.99 for 15ml). This lightweight cream which can be applied am and pm is fragrance free and comes in a squeezy tube (love a squeezy tube!). It’s packed with peptides and a gentle form of a retinol (retinyl propionate). This will help smooth fine lines without irritation and is suitable for sensitive skin. It doesn’t have excessive moisturising properties but it’s a good all rounder for the price. This product is tested on animals, which if you saw my post last week is a requirement of it being sold in to China. Studies show you would see an improvement in wrinkle reduction in 3 months.

For an advanced high-end eye serum charged with a multitude of benefits try, Medik8 Retinol Eye TR (£19.00 for 7ml). This firming and lifting liquid is a powerhouse of a pure retinol, so is stronger than the Olay product. Only 1 drop of liquid is required, just once a day in the evening is enough to see results within a month. It will significantly diminish the size and depth of lines and wrinkles, fade under eye shadows and will hydrate the skin. In case you haven’t heard of this company before, Medik8 is a professional only brand made in the UK & does not test on animals. I am a stockist of Medik8.

If you decide to start using a retinol, wear a sunscreen, even in winter. I'll explain the reasons why in my next blog which is an in-depth look at retinols, and which ones to use.

For help with puffy eyes and dark circles, try The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (£5.80 for 30ml). This is another liquid formula in a dropper bottle that can be applied, am & pm. It works well under makeup because it doesn’t pill but people with dry skin should apply an additional cream as it dries quickly and can feel tight without some extra moisture. If your exceptionally puffy in the mornings, apply using a pressure piont massage around the eye area. This is fast acting but will only help reduce fluid build up and not fatty deposits that can sit under the eye area.

Thanks for reading X